Give, Give, Give on Giving Tuesday

In between all those emails from retailers demanding attention for Black Friday and Cyber Monday, you are probably getting appeals from charities asking for donations on Giving Tuesday.

Giving Tuesday was started in 2012 to create a day of international giving in response to commercialization and consumerism between Thanksgiving and Christmas. With all the focus on Black Friday sales and Cyber Monday, it is easy to forget that nonprofits doing good works around the world need your help. Just like retailers, most of their money comes in between Thanksgiving and the end of the calendar year. Donations at year end determines their financial stability for 2018. Almost all charities will tell you that demand for services and expenses have gone up and are expected to continue that trend.

If you’re like me, you probably have more stuff than you can say grace over. My sons agree I have too much “junk” and they complain about all the stuff they’ll have to sort through when I finally die.

But every year, they want to know what they can get me for Christmas. And my birthday. And Mother’s Day.

Almost every time I ask them to give to a charity. It’s not because I’m bucking for sainthood; it’s because I really do have everything I need or want. And if I want something, I tend to get it myself.

A gift to a charity I’ve selected or that is important to them means a great deal more to me than some item they spent precious time worrying whether I would like it, or if it was the right size or color. And it a charitable gift doesn’t add to the mounds of stuff I already have!

If you are in the same situation, or if you’re trying to figure out what to get that hard-to-shop-for person, please consider a gift to a nonprofit. A gift to a faith community where your loved one worships or a cause your family member cares about can be meaningful.

Fortunately, some charities are blessed to have generous donors who will match or multiply gifts that come in on Giving Tuesday. Please consider a gift to them so your donation will be leveraged to do even more.